One of the reasons why you are probably going to through the hard work of a technology plan is so that you'll be prepared for fundraising requests. Once your plan is complete, you'll be ready to craft a fundraising strategy, research potential sources, and approach them. So,to keep you motivated, here's a preview to the ever-nagging question "Where will we ever find the money!"

Once you have the plan in place, the next step is figuring out how to present technology expenses - as a special project or part of mission-based projects. Many organizations tend to integrate technology requests into their program budgets. For example, one KIT participant approached a funder to fund its outreach program and included the cost of a computer and digital camera for that program in the request. Be creative!

Don't write requests asking for the money to support a computer upgrade. Instead, focus on your organization's mission and link that to your need for computers and other equipment. Be sure to talk about how technology can impact program outcomes - being more efficient, streamlined, reaching more people, etc. Divide your technology needs over several projects and funding sources. Estimate how much computer time a new program will require and budget in that amount the same way you might allocate a staff person's timesheet between several projects and their funding sources.

Don't limit your thinking to foundation or corporate grant proposals. Some arts organizations have successfully raised money by making a special appeal to their individual
donors. One arts organization had a "boxes and wires" benefit -- and raised $5,000 towards their upgrades. Here's another opportunity to be creative!

If you need to do research on potential funders, use the Web and don't forget to dig deeply. Also, don't forget about in-kind contributions of software, particularly the discount software program that Compumentor offers nonprofit organizations.

Resources

Enabling Technology Funding from IT Resource Center and The Chicago Community Trust

Npower: Crafting the Technology Proposal

OpenStudio: The Arts Online: Fundraising Strategies for Technology

Reflections

How will you integrate technology fundraising strategies into your organizational fundraising efforts?

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